Attachment apparatus for button and process for using same

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide a device, which includes a button and an attachment apparatus. The attachment apparatus is a contiguous member that allows for the device to be attached to material without sewing. In this way, a user without sewing experience or tools may attach the button device to a garment or fabric.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/314,880, filed on Mar. 29, 2016. The entirety of the application is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an attachment apparatus for buttons and to processes for using same. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate a pin attachment apparatus that can be used with a button to allow for attachment of the button to a garment or other piece of fabric or material when sewing or otherwise attaching the button to the garment is impossible, difficult or inconvenient.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of buttons have been developed and used throughout history. In their most common application, buttons are used as small fasteners that secure two pieces of fabric together. In a rather simplistic form, buttons are sewn to one piece of fabric and secure a second piece of fabric by passing through a small buttonhole therein. The button is typically shaped and sized so that a user may slide the button through a corresponding buttonhole, but so that the button does not readily pass through the buttonhole alone. For example, the button may be the same size or slightly smaller than the buttonhole.

Although ubiquitously used, buttons frequently fall off. Extensive use of a garment can weaken the thread that attaches the button to the piece of fabric. Excessive force can tear a button from the fabric to which it has been attached. Regardless of the method of removal, a loose or lost button may render a garment unwearable. A lost button on pants, for example, may prevent the wearer from closing the pants. A lost button on a shirt, while not rendering the shirt unwearable, may render the shirt unpresentable and unprofessional. It is therefore important to be able to replace a loose or lost button.

With the most common varieties, a button can be replaced by simply sewing the button back onto the fabric. But sewing may not always be possible, practical or convenient. If a button falls off while a garment is being worn, it may be difficult to quickly obtain the necessary materials to sew the button back on. Also, replacement of a button by sewing may require the use of a sewing needle, a needle threading device, thread, scissors, tweezers, a thimble, and possibly a new button. These materials may not be readily available. Furthermore, some people may be inexperienced with sewing. Those who do not know how to sew or who otherwise lack the necessary experience to do so effectively may not be able to readily mend garments with loose or lost buttons.

Some methods have been developed to attach buttons to fabric. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,538,396 discloses a button that attaches to fabric with a knob that is inserted into a peg, with the fabric being caught between the two. U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,696 discloses a button with a hole and a shank adapted to fit forcibly in the hole of the button. U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,033 discloses a button with a tack that pierces through fabric and rests in an anchoring socket.

Each of these products provides a means for attaching a button to fabric without the use of sewing, but requires the use of multiple parts. For any of these, loss of one part renders the entire device unusable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, there exists a need for a device that allows for attaching a button to fabric without sewing and that comprises a single body. Embodiments of the invention address this need and other needs by providing an attachment apparatus for a button and a process for using the same.

According to some embodiments, a device is provided. The device comprises a button. The button includes a female component including a front side and a back side. The back side includes a receptacle. The button further includes a male component positioned inside the receptacle of the female component. The device further comprises an attachment apparatus affixed to the male component. The attachment apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a clasp. The second portion includes a portion. The clasp is configured to receive the second portion.

According to some embodiments, a method is provided. The method comprises providing a device. The device comprises a button. The button includes a female component including a front side and a back side. The back side includes a receptacle. The button further includes a male component positioned inside the receptacle of the female component. The device further comprises an attachment apparatus affixed to the male component. The attachment apparatus includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a clasp. The second portion includes a portion. The clasp is configured to receive the second portion. The method further comprises inserting the point of the second portion into a first side of a material. The method further comprises passing the point of the second portion through the material. The method further comprises tilting the point of the second portion and inserting the point into a second side of the material. The second side is opposite to the first side. The method further comprises passing the point of the second portion through the material. The method further comprises forcing the second portion of the attachment apparatus upward and positioning the second portion into the clasp to fasten the device to the material

This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.

The foregoing, together with other features and embodiments, will become more apparent upon referring to the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention are described in the following detailed description of the specific embodiments and are illustrated in the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a device in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a back view a device in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a device in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an attachment apparatus in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary flowchart for a process of use for the device in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the device, shown with fabric and demonstrating the result of use, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the device, shown with fabric and demonstrating the result of use, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Introduction

Certain aspects and embodiments of this disclosure are provided below. Some of these aspects and embodiments may be applied independently and some of them may be applied in combination as would be apparent to those of skill in the art. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent that various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. The figures and description are not intended to be restrictive.

The ensuing description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, the ensuing description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing an exemplary embodiment. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Specific details are given in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

Also, it is noted that individual embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a data flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed, but could have additional steps not included in a figure. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination can correspond to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.

Buttons are ubiquitously used as fasteners for clothing garments, and a lost button can render a garment unwearable. Typically, a button can be replaced by sewing it onto a garment with a needle and thread. But sewing a button onto fabric effectively using conventional methods and/or products is not always feasible due to either lack of materials or lack of sewing experience.

A button with a single body pin attachment apparatus is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the button used in conjunction with the attachment apparatus appears as a regular button when viewed from the front, i.e., the button resembles typical buttons, e.g., in shape, size, color, and design. Some embodiments may include holes in the button onto which thread is sewn. This thread, however, may be simply for appearances, in some embodiments.

The button may comprise a female component, which may comprise a disc with a front side and a back side. The back side and/or the front side may comprise a receptacle. The attachment apparatus comprises a male component, which comprises an insert. In use, the insert fits into the receptacle of the female component. The attachment apparatus may further comprise a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may form a clasp and the second portion may form a point. The attachment apparatus may be affixed within the male component and arranged such that the second portion (i.e., with the point) can be fastened by the clasp.

The back of the button may include the attachment, which is similar to a standard safety pin in function and may be used to pin the button onto the fabric. The attachment apparatus is particularly useful for users with little or no sewing experience, who might not be able to sew on a replacement button. When employing the aforementioned attachment apparatus, the user may simply replace a button by pinning the button onto the garment using the attachment apparatus where the original button had been. In some embodiments, the button device may be, advantageously, entirely self-contained, in that no additional tools or materials are needed to replace the lost button. The attachment apparatus alone can be used to replace a lost button. Beneficially, there is no need for additional tools, such as needles, thread, scissors, or tweezers. The attachment apparatus may be particularly useful for instances when a button falls off at a time or place that sewing is inconvenient.

The following detailed description provides further specifications of the device and refers to the accompanying drawings. As used herein, the terms “front,” “forward,” etc. refer to the direction from the button outward (i.e., away from the fabric during normal usage), and the terms “back,” “backward,” etc. refer to the direction from the button device inward (i.e., toward the fabric during normal usage).

II. Button Device with Pin Attachment Apparatus

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of a device 100 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The device 100 may include a button and an attachment apparatus (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the device 100 comprises female component 105. Female component 105 may have holes 110 around which thread 115 is wrapped. Holes 110 and thread 115 may provide the appearance of a button that has been sewn onto a garment. When used, the attachment apparatus (not shown) replaces a loose or lost button by simply being pinned into the fabric of a given garment. Holes 110 and thread 115 in some embodiments thus are intended to conceal the fact that the button device has been pinned onto a garment rather than sewn. The type of thread 115 is not particularly limited, and thread of any material may be used, e.g., cotton, polyester, silk, wool, combinations thereof, and/or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the center of the female component 105 (or any other location on female component 105) may include any number of holes 110, e.g., 2 holes, 3 holes, 4 holes, etc.. The holes 110 may be disposed about the female component 105, being arranged such that they are evenly spaced from each other in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the holes 110 may not be evenly spaced from each other. These holes 110 may replicate the holes 110 in a standard sew-through button. These holes 110 may be of any shape, e.g., circular, ellipse, oval, square, rectangle, etc. The diameter of these holes 110 is not particularly limited, but they must be small enough to fit on the female component. Without being limited, the diameter of each of the number of holes may be less than 10 mm, e.g., less than 5 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 1 mm, etc.

In some embodiments, neither the holes 110 nor the thread 115 are present. In some embodiments, the female component 105 may be smooth or planar on its front side. This may be desirable to resemble shank buttons, which typically have a hollow protrusion on the back through which thread is sewn to attach the button. Thread is not visible when shank buttons are attached to fabric or a garment. Thus, some embodiments of the device 100 may not have holes 110 or thread 115 at the front of the female component 105, so that the device 100 can be used to replace a loose or lost shank button.

FIG. 2 illustrates a back perspective view of a device 200 including a button and attachment apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention. Device 200 may be the same as device 100. The device 200 includes a female component 205 and a male component 210. The male component 210 may be coupled to the female component 205 in a receptacle in the female component 205. As used herein, the male component 210 and the female component 205 may be referred to collectively as a “button”.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of device 300 including female component 305, male component 310, and attachment apparatus 315. Device 300 may be the same as device 100 and/or device 200. As shown, female component 305 may encase male component 310 on all but one side. Attachment apparatus 315 may be affixed within the male component 310. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the attachment apparatus 315 may be arranged such that portions of the attachment apparatus are exposed on the back side of the device 300. Because the device 300 may be used to inconspicuously replace loose or lost buttons without the need to sew, some embodiments of the invention include aesthetic components meant to replicate the appearance of a button that is sewn onto a garment. The fabric or garment with which the devices 100, 200, and/or 300 is used is not particularly limited. Generally, the devices 100, 200, and/or 300 may be used with any fabric or garment.

As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments of the button 300, the attachment apparatus 315 may be affixed to the male component 310 such that a second portion of the attachment apparatus 315 (including the point, described further herein) and a clasp of the first portion of the attachment apparatus 315 may be exposed at the back of the device 300. The first portion of the attachment apparatus 315, excluding the clasp, may be held on the front side of the male component 310, within the receptacle of the female component 305. For example, the areas of attachment apparatus 315 that are perpendicular to the male component 310 may traverse holes within the male component 310, leaving a first portion of the attachment apparatus 315 interior to the receptacle of the female component 305, and a second portion of the attachment apparatus 315 exterior to the receptacle of the female component 305 to allow pinning to a material. The first and second portions of the attachment apparatus 315 are described further herein with respect to FIG. 4. Although shown as intersecting with the male component at two areas in FIG. 3, it is contemplated that the attachment apparatus 315 may intersect with the male component 310 at one or any number of areas.

When the device 300 is properly used, the female component 305 may be the only portion of the device 300 apparent on the fabric or garment. In some embodiments, the female component 305 may be substantially circular. Most buttons used for clothing garments are circular in shape, and it is desirable for the button device to be similar in shape to the button which it replaces. Nevertheless, the shape of the female component is not particularly limited and may include any shape or design, such as oval, square, rectangular, polygonal, star, and/or the like. The size of the female component 305 may be similarly variable. In some embodiments, the diameter of the female component 305 may be less than 2 cm, e.g., less than 1.5 cm, less than 1 cm, less than 0.75 cm, and/or the like. Larger sizes are also possible. Different sizes may be preferred for different types of garments. For example, the female component 305 of a device 300 intended to replace a button on a shirt may have a diameter of approximately 1 cm, while that of a button device intended to replace a button on a coat may have a much larger diameter of 4 cm.

The thickness of the female component 305, i.e., the length of the button from the front to the back, is not particularly limited. The female component 305 is preferably substantially thick enough to facilitate gripping of the device 300, but not so thick as to hinder passing the device 300 through a buttonhole in a garment. In some embodiments, the thickness of the female component 305 may be less than 6 mm, e.g., less than 5 mm, less than 3 mm, less than 2 mm, and/or the like. The thickness, in some embodiments, may be similar to that of standard buttons or the buttons on a particular garment, so that the device 300 may be used to inconspicuously replace a loose or lost button.

The material of the makeup of the female component 305 is not particularly limited. In some embodiments, the female component 305 may comprise a synthetic material, e.g., plastic, acrylic resin, celluloid, casein, amino resin, and the like, and/or combinations thereof. These materials may be preferable for economic reasons. In some embodiments, the device 300 may be formed of plastic. This allows for the device 300 to inconspicuously replace a loose or lost button that may have also been made of plastic. In alternative embodiments of the device 300, the female component 305 may comprise a metal, e.g., aluminum, brass, sterling silver, steel, the like, and/or combinations thereof. Certain garments tend to use metal buttons. For example, men's blazers may use metal buttons. Embodiments of the device 300 wherein the female component 305 comprise a metallic combination are contemplated. In some embodiments, the female component 305 (and/or the male component 310) may be comprised of a combination of synthetic and metallic components, e.g., a plastic with a metal casing or plating. This may be desirable for reducing cost of manufacture.

Because the female component 305 may be the only portion of the button device visible while the device is in use, in some embodiments, the female component 305 may have the appearance of a typical button. Even so, the design of the female component 305 is not particularly limited. In some embodiments, the female embodiment 305 may be substantially flat. Some embodiments of the device 300 may also include a raised rim about the outer perimeter of the front of the female component 305. The female component 305 may also include a number of ridges that run along the side of the female component 305, i.e., running from the front to the back. These features may be intended to make the device 300 appear similar to standard buttons while in use.

The female component 305 may be of any color, e.g., white, black, gray, red, orange, yellow, etc. The female component 305 may be a singular, solid color, or it may be several colors in design, e.g., stripes or dots. The female component 305 may also be decorated by any number of decorative techniques, e.g., electroplating, embroidery, lacquerware, metallizing, etc. These are only a few methods of applied aesthetics in decorating buttons. Any method of decoration may be used to decorate the device 300. This decoration may be desirable to ensure that various embodiments of the device 300 exist that resemble buttons used for clothing, so that the device 300 can be used to inconspicuously replace a loose or lost button from a garment.

While the front of the female component 305 is designed to resemble a standard button, the back of the female component 305 comprises a receptacle, into which the male component 310 is inserted. As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, this receptacle may be formed by a hollow opening in the female component 305. The opening in the back side of the female component 305 may be bounded by a prong 306, which extends toward the center of the button. As shown in FIG. 3, some embodiments of the receptacle are designed with a trapezoidal cross-section. Some embodiments have the receptacle with a different cross-sectional shape, e.g., rectangular, square, semicircle, etc.

In some embodiments of the device 300, the male component 310 is completely inserted into the female component 305. As such, the male component 310 may be small enough to fit within the female component 305. The male component 310 may take the form of a flat disc, but the male component can be formed into any shape, e.g., circle, oval, square, triangle, hexagon, etc. The male component 310 may be of the same shape as the female component 305 in some embodiments, so that the male component 310 may be easily inserted into the receptacle of the female component 305 and affixed therein. The size of the male component 310 may be similarly variable. In some embodiments of the device 300, the diameter of the male component 310 may be less than 2 cm, e.g. less than 1.5 cm, less than 1 cm, less than 0.75 cm, etc. Again, the size of the male component 310 may depend on the size of the female component 305. The male component 310 is smaller than the female component in some embodiments, so that that male component may be easily inserted into the receptacle of the female component. However, the male component 310 is preferably large enough that the prong of the female component 305 holds the male component 310 within the receptacle.

In some embodiments of the device 300, the edge of the male component 310 may be sloped, so as to facilitate inserting the male component into the receptacle. As shown in FIG. 3, the diameter at the front of the male component 310 may be smaller than the diameter at the back of the male component 310. This may create a trapezoidal cross-section. The smaller diameter may be smaller than the diameter of the receptacle. This may simultaneously facilitate insertion of the male component 310 into the receptacle and hinder removal of the male component 310 from the receptacle. The tapered edge may allow the male component 310 to be forced into the receptacle, and, because the back side is wider than the opening of the receptacle, the prong 306 may hold the male component 310 therein.

As shown in FIG. 3, the attachment apparatus 315 may be affixed within the male component 310. In some embodiments of the device 300, the male component 310 may comprise a number of small holes, through which the attachment apparatus 315 may pass and remain. In this way, the attachment apparatus 315 may be integrated into the male component 310. The attachment apparatus 315 and male component 310 may form one contiguous component that is held within the receptacle of the female component 305.

The material of the male component 310 is not particularly limited. In some embodiments, the male component 310 may comprise a synthetic material, e.g., plastic, acrylic resin, celluloid, casein, amino resin, combinations thereof, and/or the like. These materials may be relatively inexpensive. In some embodiments of the device 300, the male component 310 may comprise a metal, e.g., aluminum, brass, sterling silver, steel, combinations thereof, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the male component 310 may be comprised of a combination of synthetic and metallic components, e.g., a plastic with a metal casing or plating. This may be desirable for reducing cost of manufacture.

The male component 310 and the female component 305 may be made of the same material or of different materials. In some embodiments, both the female component 305 and the male component 310 may be made of the same synthetic material. For example, both the female component 305 and the male component 310 may be made of an amino resin. In some embodiments, the male component 310 may be made of a synthetic material, while the female component 305 is made of a metallic component. For example, the male component 310 may be made of an amino resin, while the female component 305 may be made of brass. Such a combination may reduce production cost for devices that resemble metal buttons.

The attachment apparatus 315 may be used to affix the button. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of an attachment apparatus 400. Attachment apparatus 400 may be the same as attachment apparatus 215 and/or attachment apparatus 315. As shown, the attachment apparatus 315 may be formed of a single elongated body and comprise two connected portions: a first portion 405 and a second portion 410. The attachment apparatus 400 may be arranged such that the first portion 405 includes a clasp 415 and the second portion 410 includes a point 420 at one end. In some embodiments, the second portion 410 may be bent back and return toward the clasp 415, so that the second portion 410 can be forced into and held in the clasp 415 during use.

In use, the area(s) of attachment apparatus 400 that are perpendicular to the male component (i.e., perpendicular to the elongated body of the attachment apparatus 400) may traverse holes within the male component, leaving the first portion 405 of the attachment apparatus 400 interior to the receptacle of the female component (except for the clasp 415), and a second portion 410 of the attachment apparatus 400 exterior to the receptacle of the female component (plus the clasp 415) to allow pinning to a material. The area(s) of attachment apparatus 400 that are perpendicular to the male component and/or the elongated body of the attachment apparatus 400 include at least one of: (A) an end of the attachment apparatus 400 that connects the first portion to the second portion, and/or (B) an area of the first portion that extends toward the back side of the device to form the clasp 415.

The size of the attachment apparatus 400 is not particularly limited. The elongated body of the attachment apparatus 400 may be short enough that it can be integrated within a male component (e.g., male component 310), but long enough that it can be bent back and come to a point with enough length to be handled during use. The gauge, i.e., the diameter at midshaft, of the elongated body of the attachment apparatus 400 may vary. The gauge of the second portion 410 is preferably small enough to allow the point 420 and the second portion 410 to pass through fabric without unnecessarily damaging the fabric, but also large enough to ensure that the device (e.g., device 100, 200, and/or 300) is securely attached to the fabric when in use. As shown in FIG. 4, the attachment apparatus 400 may taper to a point 420 at its second portion 410. The length of the taper and the width of the point 420 are not particularly limited, so long as the point 420 is sharp enough to pierce fabric. However, in some embodiments, with the exception of the point 420, the remainder of the attachment apparatus 400 may have the same gauge. As above described, the second portion 410 passes through small holes in the male component (e.g., male component 310), so that the second portion 410 is affixed within the male component and the two form one contiguous component.

As above described, the clasp 415 may be formed from the attachment apparatus 400 at on the first portion 405. As shown in FIG. 4, this may be accomplished by contorting the elongated body of the attachment apparatus 400. To form the clasp 415, the elongated body may bend downward and jut outward, with a small portion bending upward and back toward the elongated body to act as the catch 416 for the clasp 415. Relative to the device (e.g., device 100, 200, and/or 300), this may mean that the elongated body may bend toward the back, run along the back of the male component, and have a small portion bent forward for the catch 416. FIG. 4 shows the clasp 415 with the catch 416 forming a triangular shape, but the catch may be any convenient shape, e.g. rectangular, hexagonal, oval, circular, combinations thereof, and/or the like.

As above described, the second portion 410 of the attachment apparatus 400 may bend back toward the first portion 405. This may be arranged so that the second portion 410 can be forced into the clasp 415. As shown in FIG. 4, in some embodiments of the attachment apparatus 400, the elongated body may bend back by first bending downward then bending backward. Relative to the device e.g., device 100, 200, and/or 300), this may mean that the elongated body may bend toward the back and run along the back of the male component. In this way, both the clasp 415 and the second portion of the pin 410 may be exposed on the back side of the device, so that each can be handled by the user during use. When in a closed state (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3), such that the second portion 410 is held in the clasp 415, it is contemplated that at least a portion of the first portion 405 may be parallel to the second portion 410.

The material of the attachment apparatus 400 is not particularly limited. In some embodiments, the attachment apparatus 400 is made of a metal, e.g., stainless steel, spring steel, brass, nickel, zinc, combinations thereof, and/or the like. For example, the attachment apparatus 400 may be comprised of nickel-plated stainless steel. In some embodiments, the attachment apparatus 400 may be made of plastic or other non-metallic components, possibly in combination with metallic components. Examples of plastics that may be used include polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamides (PA), polycarbonate (PC), combinations thereof, and/or the like. The attachment apparatus 400 may be made of a same or different material than the female component and/or the male component. In some embodiments, the attachment apparatus 400 may be continuous, integral, and/or made of a single component, e.g., by shaping a single piece of metal into the desired shape shown in FIG. 4.

As above described, the attachment apparatus 400 may be arranged about the male component so that the second portion of the attachment apparatus 400 can be forced into the clasp 415 when in use. To ensure the device (e.g., device 100, 200, and/or 300) does not fall off while in use, the second portion 410 may be held in the clasp 415. Some embodiments of the attachment apparatus 400 may be formed from materials that are rigid. The second portion 410 may be held within the clasp 415 by the resistive tension of the second portion 410 being forced into the clasp 415.

III. Process for Using Attachment Apparatus with Button

According to some embodiments, a process is provided for using the above-described attachment apparatus with a button (e.g., a male component and a female component as described above). FIG. 5 shows an exemplary flowchart 500 for a process of using any of the disclosed devices (e.g., devices 100, 200 and/or 300). As used herein, the term “device” may be used to refer to a combination of a button (e.g., a male component and a female component) and an attachment apparatus. The male component may be any of the male components described herein; the female component may be any of the female components described herein; and the attachment apparatus may be any of the attachment apparatuses described herein.

At step 505, a user may grip the device. The process disclosed in the flow of FIG. 5 may be designed to be used with many embodiments of the device. If the device is being used to replace a button that has been lost from a garment, the user may select the device that best resembles the buttons that remain on the garment. For example, if a user intends to replace a button that has fallen off a shirt, the user may select the device that best resembles the remaining buttons on the shirt in size, shape, color, and method of attachment. For example, to resemble a button that has fallen off a white dress shirt, the user may select an embodiment of the device wherein the female component is white and circular with a diameter of 1 cm and a thickness of 3 mm and with four small holes and white thread. If the device is being used to attach a button to a garment or fabric, e.g., not to replace a loose or lost button, the user may select any suitable device.

At step 510, the point of the attachment apparatus may be inserted into the desired fabric, garment or material. If the device is being used to replace a loose or lost button, the point may be inserted at the location where the loose or lost button had been attached. Otherwise, the point may be inserted at any desired location on the fabric, garment or material. The fabric, garment or material with which the button device is not limited. The device may be used with any fabric, garment or material.

At step 515, the user may pass the attachment apparatus through the material, e.g. by pushing or pulling, until the entirety of the point has passed through the material. The attachment apparatus may be tilted, at step 520, so as to reinsert the point into the opposite side of the material. At step 525, the user may again pass the attachment apparatus through the material, e.g., by pushing or pulling, until the second portion of the pin has passed through the material at the original point of insertion.

At step 530, the user may force, e.g., by pushing, pulling, or compressing, the second portion of the attachment apparatus forward so as to position the second portion of the attachment apparatus into the clasp. Because the attachment apparatus is preferably made of a substance that is substantially rigid, forcing the second portion into the clasp may require an application of pressure. Thus, the resistive tension created by forcing the second portion of the attachment apparatus into the clasp can hold the attachment apparatus closed and prevent the device from falling from the fabric or garment.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the device 600 after the above-described process has been performed, according to some embodiments. As shown, the attachment apparatus 615 has fastened the device to the desired material 630. FIG. 7 shows a side view of the device 700 after the above-described process. As shown, the result of the process is that the device is attached to the desired material 705 in a manner that resembles a button that has been attached by sewing. The attachment apparatus, however, has removed the need for sewing, so that a user without sewing experience or without the necessary tools to sew may replace a loose or lost button or may attach a button to a piece of material. Devices 600 and/or 700 may be the same as any of devices 100, 200, and/or 300.

In the foregoing description, aspects of the application are described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited thereto. Thus, while illustrative embodiments of the application have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art. Various features and aspects of the above-described invention may be used individually or jointly. Further, embodiments can be utilized in any number of environments and applications beyond those described herein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the specification. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. For the purposes of illustration, methods were described in a particular order. It should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments, the methods may be performed in a different order than that described. 

We claim:
 1. A device comprising: a button including: a female component including a front side and a back side, wherein the back side includes a receptacle; a male component positioned inside the receptacle of the female component; and an attachment apparatus affixed to the male component, the attachment apparatus including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes a clasp, wherein the second portion includes a point, and wherein the clasp is configured to receive the second portion.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the back side of the female component includes a prong disposed about a perimeter of the receptacle, and wherein the prong is configured to hold the male component inside the receptacle of the female component.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the clasp includes a catch configured to hold the second portion in the clasp when closed.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the front side of the female component includes at least one hole.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the at least one hole includes thread.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the attachment apparatus is continuous.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the first portion is parallel to the second portion.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the attachment apparatus further includes a third portion attached between a first end of the first portion and a second end of the second portion, wherein the third portion is perpendicular to the first portion.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the third portion affixes the attachment apparatus to the male portion.
 10. The device of claim 8, wherein the male portion includes a hole, and wherein the third portion extends through the hole, thereby positioning at least a part of the first portion inside the receptacle of the female connector and the second portion outside the receptacle of the female connector.
 11. A method comprising: providing a device, wherein the device comprises: a button including: a female component including a front side and a back side, wherein the back side includes a receptacle; a male component positioned inside the receptacle of the female component; and an attachment apparatus affixed to the male component, the attachment apparatus including a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes a clasp, wherein the second portion includes a point, and wherein the clasp is configured to receive the second portion; inserting the point of the second portion into a first side of a material; passing the point of the second portion through the material; tilting the point of the second portion and inserting the point into a second side of the material, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side; passing the point of the second portion through the material; and forcing the second portion of the attachment apparatus upward and positioning the second portion into the clasp to fasten the device to the material.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the back side of the female component includes a prong disposed about a perimeter of the receptacle, and wherein the prong is configured to hold the male component inside the receptacle of the female component.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the clasp includes a catch configured to hold the second portion in the clasp when closed.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the front side of the female component includes at least one hole.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one hole includes thread.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment apparatus is continuous.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first portion is parallel to the second portion.
 18. The method of claim 11, wherein the attachment apparatus further includes a third portion attached between a first end of the first portion and a second end of the second portion, wherein the third portion is perpendicular to the first portion.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the third portion affixes the attachment apparatus to the male portion.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein the male portion includes a hole, and wherein the third portion extends through the hole, thereby positioning at least a part of the first portion inside the receptacle of the female connector and the second portion outside the receptacle of the female connector. 